Grants available for GLBT issues

Monday

Dec 3, 2012 at 12:01 AM

The Lipsky-Whittaker Fund of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts is seeking proposals for grants to support projects focused on either gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth, or HIV/AIDS prevention, education and treatment.

The Lipsky-Whittaker Fund of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts is seeking proposals for grants to support projects focused on either gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered youth, or HIV/AIDS prevention, education and treatment.

Applications, which are available at the CFSEMA website, are due at the foundation office, 63 Union St., New Bedford, by Jan. 4. Visit www.cfsema.org to download the application form.

"The Lipsky-Whittaker Fund believes strongly in making strategic investments for the well-being of the Greater New Bedford gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community and in combating HIV/AIDS through prevention and education," said John Vasconcellos, one of the fund's advisers, in a news release.

"We encourage collaboration among individuals, groups and organizations interested in ending bigotry, violence and discrimination towards GLBT individuals and families, as well as promoting respect and inclusion as fundamental to the Greater New Bedford community's values and actions."

Projects must be focused within the following geographic area: Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Freetown, Marion, Mattapoisett, New Bedford, Rochester, Wareham and Westport.

The semi-annual grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 will be awarded to help support local GLBT organizations that work with GLBT youth; seed new and innovative projects to combat homophobia and create an atmosphere of respect and acceptance; support needed but underfunded services to GLBT individuals and families; and to support projects and events that stress education about and prevention of HIV and AIDS

Created by the John J. Lipsky Charitable Trust, the fund was named for John Lipsky and George Whittaker, who lived together for 52 years in a committed, loving relationship.

They died just eight weeks apart in 2005. George was born and raised in New Bedford, and became a costume designer to the stars in Hollywood. John, a Rhode Island native, was a television executive. When they retired in 1980 they returned to Greater New Bedford to spend summers with family and friends.

According to the Community Foundation, throughout their lives, Lipsky and Whittaker faced a world that was hostile to gay men and lesbians, and also witnessed the devastation of the AIDS epidemic, with many of their close friends and colleagues dying of the disease.

Their wish was to use their resources to help end the epidemic of AIDS and the climate of fear, hostility and rejection they had experienced. To that end, the Lipsky-Whittaker Fund was launched at CFSEMA to help realize their dream.

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